Quote of the Day

"I’m telling you she appears to be a racist. She said things that are racist in any other context. That’s exactly how we would portray it and there’s no one who would get on the Supreme Court saying a thing like that except for a Hispanic woman and you’re going to say it doesn’t matter!"

Tancredo has a history of hostility towards the Hispanic community. The Hispanic television network Univision held a presidential debate. Unsurprisingly, Tancredo boycotted the event. This was a candidate whom needed the exposure. Tancredo sent out this press release.

Tancredo released this statement: “It is the law that to become a naturalized citizen of this country you must have knowledge and understanding of English, including a basic ability to read, write, and speak the language,” Tancredo said. “So what may I ask are our presidential candidates doing participating in a Spanish speaking debate? Pandering comes to mind...America has been a melting pot of people from all over the world but it can not survive as a nation if our immigrants do not assimilate. A common language is essential to that goal. Bilingualism is a great asset for any individual but it has perilous consequences for a nation. As such, a Spanish debate has no place in a presidential campaign.”

The Spanish language poses "perilous consequences" for the United States? What a crock of shit. That might explain why he called Miami a third world country.

"Look at what has happened to Miami. It has become a Third World country. You just pick it up and take it and move it someplace. You would never know you're in the United States of America. You would certainly say you're in a Third World country," Tancredo said.

Sotomayor In Action

This is video of Sonia Sotomayor questioning a Bush Justice Department lawyer about when is it legal to torture. The attorney told the Second Curcuit Court bench under the interests national security and foreign policy torture is acceptable. The attorney later backed off that stance from grilling by Sotomayor. The defense of torture argument quickly falls apart in a legal setting.

The case the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit was hearing was Arar v. Ashcroft. Maher Arar was captured by the C.I.A. and sent to Syria to be tortured into a confession. The C.I.A. and Syrians eventually realized they had the wrong Maher Arar and released him.

Arar has duel Canadian and Syrian citizenship. The Canadian government has asked the United States to clear Arar's name. President Obama's brand of change is to continue to keep Arar on the terrorist watchlist. To quote Pete Townsend, "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss."

RedState.con v. Crist

RedState.com is running an online petition against Gov. Charlie Crist and the NRSC. It is so much fun watching conservatives self-destruct.

We pledge that we will give no funds or other support to the NRSC and will reach out to NRSC donors to encourage them to withhold giving funds until the NRSC publicly pledges that it will expend zeros resources either directly or indirectly to help Charlie Crist win the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in Florida.

The Right does not have it's own version of the netroots. RedState.com is not (and likely never will be) the right-wing version of Daily Kos. This will not intimidate Crist or NRSC Chairman John Cornyn.

Peter Schorsch wrote that Crist leads Marco Rubio 53 percent to 18 percent in the latest Mason Dixon poll. Cornyn said, "Gov. Crist is the strongest candidate that will enable us to hold the seat." NRSC is in the business of winning elections. Cornyn isn't confident Rubio can beat Kendrick Meek or Dan Gelber in the general election. I would love to see the NRSC internal polling on Rubio. (That is a hint for someone to leak it to me.)

Side note: Why is Rubio so obsessed with running against Crist? Bill McCollum is a weak candidate. Rubio could beat McCollum in the primary and give Republicans a better chance against Sink. That is the best bet for keeping the Governor's mansion and Martinez's Senate seat. Republicans are more concerned with appeasing their dwindling base then winning elections. Democrats have a 600,000 voter registration advantage in Florida. The 2008 election shifted Florida Hispanics to the Democratic Party. Hard Right Republicans decide the best course of action is to call Hispanic Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor a racist. That is not building a big tent. That is political suicide.

The quote Sotomayor made that has worked up Limbaugh's and Baxley's mock outrage is this.

Activists also targeted this quote from 2001: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Sotomayor was talking about how legal decisions effect the lives of people and her experiences as a Hispanic woman growing up in poverty gives her a different perspective. Perhaps not the best choice of words. However, Obama wanted a Justice with empathy. Sotomayor fits the bill.

It really is hysterical Limbaugh and Baxley are positioning themselves as racial equality advocates. These clowns have a history of making racist remarks.

Baxley was a member of the Florida legislature. Baxley fought to keep the racist tune The Swanee River the official Florida state song.

The lyrics

Way down upon de Swanee Ribber,Far, far away,Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber,Dere's wha de old folks stay.All up and down de whole creationSadly I roam,Still longing for de old plantation,And for de old folks at home.

CHORUSAll de world am sad and dreary,Eb-rywhere I roam;Oh, darkeys, *how my heart grows weary,Far from de old folks at home!

Baxley's reasoning for supporting the song is to celebrate Florida's history of slavory.

"I am really bucking the tide on this whole thing of expunging Southern history from Florida. Our roots are Deep South. The state song is about slaves working. They built Florida's economy," Baxley told The Gainesville Sun.

Baxley said part of his reasoning for supporting the song is he feels discriminated against. The cries of white conservative victimization.

"I don't pretend that the past was all beautiful and wonderful. I'm sure it was painful for some people, but we're in a multicultural area and everyone's culture is celebrated but mine."

BlackPlanet.com compiled racist statements from Limbaugh. I literally could spend hours compiling racist Limbaugh remarks. This quote should make people understand why Limbaugh should be laughed out of the room every time the radio host accuses someone of racism.

1. I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.

Crist's 'Broad Based' Nonsense

Gov. Charlie Crist is running for the U.S. Senate and needs to prove himself a fiscal conservative. Crist signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge. The group is run by the scandal-plagued Grover Norquist. Conservatives attacked Norquist for his association with the Islamist Fifth Column. Norquist came under F.B.I scrutiny for his ties with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Republican politicians don't have the good sense to avoid Norquist.

Crist signed Norquist anti-tax pledge. The problem is Crist raised taxes on cigareetes. Fees are technically not new taxes. Florida citizens will still feel the impact.

"It's broad based, if it's a majority," Crist said. "Clearly."

Here's what's clear: The state has about 15.6 million driver licenses and about 18.8 million motor vehicles. All of them will have to pay more.

Is that "broad based" enough?

Norquist's tax pledge is silly. Politicians should not paint themselves in a corner about promising never to raise taxes. Tax policy should be based on careful study and the current economic climate. It was pointless for Crist to sign the pledge. The Governor is terrified Norquist will whip up the base against him. Hardly a profile in courage.

Mancow Waterboarded

Erich “Mancow” Muller is a Chicago morning talk radio host for WLS radio. Mancow repeatedly said on his show that waterboarding is not torture. As a joke, Mancow volunteered to have himself waterboarded. Mancow lasted "6 or 7 seconds" and reluctantly admitted waterboarding is torture.

"It is such an odd feeling to have water poured down your nose with your head back...It was instantaneous...and I don't want to say this: absolutely torture."

Mancow submitted himself to be waterboarded as a morning radio stunt and to prove it was not torture. Mancow told Keith Olbermann he was in pain two days after the experience.

“I felt the effects for two days. I had chest pains. I told my wife — I have two little kids. We prayed. I said, dear God, help me. I had chest pains. I was so stressed out by this,” Mancow said.

Money quote:

MANCOW: First of all, Sean Hannity called me and said, “It’s still not torture.” I said, “Sean” — he is a friend of mine — “it is torture.” All right. But, look, you are giving 10,000 dollars to the Veterans of Valor.org. So I think you are stand-up guy for doing that.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Quote of the Day

"I have not talked to the president about it."

Robert Gibbs, asked by White House press corp about California Supreme Court ruling.

For the record: the California Supreme Court originally legalized gay marriage in the state. The court does not have the power to overturn a legal ballot initiative. What I find interesting is Obama running away from the LGBT community. During the campaign Obama came out against Prop 8. Obama is now abandoning parts of the base after winning the presidency. Change supporters on the Left don't want to believe is happening.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Happy Birthday Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was born on May 24, 1941. His influence on music, politics and pop culture is literally immeasurable. People have been trying to figure out Dylan for years. The 60s anti-war hero is staunchly pro-Israel. (Documented in the lyrics of Neighborhood Bully.) Seth Stevenson reported, in 1965, Dylan said he would sell out for "ladies undergarments." Dylan decades later appeared in a Victoria's Secret commercial. Dylan is both counterculture rebel and corporate salesman. To call Dylan a walking contradiction would be a massive understatement.